As the Rangers boss sat discussing his budget for next season, Charles Green – the man who had promised him a £10million kitty – was heading for the exit.

Chaos was ensuing at Ibrox as the chief executive walked away while McCoist was manfully trying to hold the fort at Murray Park.

He probably can’t be sure what’s going to happen next.

Perhaps the only thing he can have some clarity on is that his team will be playing in the Second Division of the SFL next season.

Or can he? Recent history has told McCoist to take nothing for granted.

But he’ll plan for life in Division Two because, as the club lurches from one drama to the next, it’s all he can do.

McCoist said: “At this moment in time we know what league we’re playing in and it looks as though it will be SFL2.

“That’s great because it’s what we’re planning for.

“At least, with the players we’re trying to bring to the club, we can tell them that’s where we’re playing. If not with absolute certainty then with some confidence.

“Let’s be honest, you can’t be certain of anything. I saw Les Gray at Hamilton saying SFL1 clubs will meet on Monday, right?

“You would hope we would be able to start planning but you can’t be sure.

“We’ve just got to plan as if it’s settled. We’re setting up to play in SFL2.

“We can’t have the uncertainty we had last summer. Our season finishes in two weeks, so you’d like to think we’ll know where we’re going to be at the start of next season.

“Sadly we can’t be certain. But, at the moment we’re gearing up for SFL2.”

As the backdrop of controversy and madness unfolded yesterday, McCoist was thanking his lucky stars for missing at least one other shambolic affair. The SPL reconstruction vote.

He could barely contain his shock at two issues. Firstly, the reaction to Ross County and St Mirren’s choice to say no.

And secondly, the decision of the 10 clubs to vote yes when scores of fans have voiced their disapproval.

McCoist said: “I am genuinely surprised and taken aback at all the uproar towards Ross County and St Mirren.

“I was led to believe for weeks this was the way they were going to vote. They stuck to that and voted no then everybody else threw the toys out of the pram.

“I’m surprised at that as Roy MacGregor was 100 per cent spot on. The 12-12 going into three leagues of eight is a shambles.

“I know people are saying, ‘Let’s have change and then we can do this or do that.’ But it’s easy to say that. You have to look at the two 12s splitting into three eights, people returning to no points, all that kind of stuff.

“It’s not right. On that point alone I can understand Ross County and St Mirren not wanting to be part of it.”

McCoist is miffed at fans being ignored over reconstruction a year after top-flight clubs insisted they had to pay heed to supporters’ wishes and deny newco Gers entry to the SPL.

And he revealed there may even have been managers within the SPL who didn’t buy into the 12-12-18 plan.

He added: “You know the clubs. There were six in the SPL asking their supporters what to do.

“That’s fine, I don’t have a problem with that, but you can’t do it one minute and then not do it the next.

“You can’t agree with your supporters all the time. There have to be decisions where you might upset the majority of your fans but you believe it is for the best for the clubs at the moment.

“That’s what they’ll say it is but at least ask the fans and listen to them. The irony is not lost on me that everyone at the start of last season was listening to their supporters and now it’s all change at Crewe!

“There are definitely some good things. I’m not saying the whole thing is a non-starter.

“But ultimately it is about football and 12-12-18 wasn’t right at all.

“The majority of coaches and managers I spoke to weren’t happy with it because they’re football people.”

McCoist’s own preference is the 14-14-14 model proposed by Green before his departure.

He added: “The 14-14-14 would be worth a go. If there’s a split to 7-7 it works out at about 38 games.

“Straight away it’s a bigger league and there are certainly clubs in SFL1 who can come up and it would be fine, the likes of Falkirk and Partick.

“They have shown they can compete in one-off games with SPL clubs so there is no reason why they couldn’t handle it.

“I’d also introduce play-offs. They generate excitement and that is what we need.”